Public Employee Press

Part 3 in a series on state rent regulation services employees.
On the path to justice
Rent Law Enforcers


Elliott Vizansky has devoted his career to upholding rent regulations and the rent stabilization law in New York City.

"Rent stabilization is very important to maintain in New York City," said Vizansky, reflecting upon the mission of his job at New York State Homes and Community Renewal, where after 29 years on the job he's practically an institution himself. "Landlords frequently try to rip off tenants. That's a fact. Technically, we are neutral. But we are happy to steer people down the correct path to resolve an injustice," he said.

Vizansky majored in theater at Knox College and studied performing arts and administration at New York University. He started at the state agency because "he needed a job," he said matter-of-factly.

A dedicated unionist, Vizansky served as president of Rent Regulation Services Employees Local 1359 from 1994 to 1998. "I was considered too controversial as local president by both management and our membership," he wrote PEP in an email message.

At the agency, Vizansky started out at the World Trade Center, transferred to a borough office at Columbus Circle in Manhattan and then to the main office in Jamaica, Queens, before moving into his current workplace in the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building in Harlem.

Vizansky was brought on staff to handle a backlog of complaints, appeals and other paperwork, and he didn't expect the job to be permanent. "The backlog never went away," he said with a grin, explaining his decision to remain on the job.

He described the pace of work at the New York State Homes and Community Renewal's Upper Manhattan borough office as very busy, saying office workers typically meet with 30 people a day. He and his co-workers advise tenants and landlords on how to initiate cases and provide them with forms for complaints and freedom of information requests. The cases typically involve excessive rents and properties' rental history.

Over the years, Vizansky has seen the workforce decline from over 750 to about 200. Because of the downsizing, he and his co-workers must spend part of their time covering the reception desk.

Occasionally, clients become upset after learning they must go to another Housing and Community Renewal office to file their complaint. The reception desk has a plastic barrier to protect workers, and staffers are used to calling security when they fear a dispute might get out of control, Vizansky said.

— Gregory N. Heires